Police officer&#39;s shackle



Aug. 23, 1932. H. WESSON ET AL POL-ICE OFFICER'S SHACKLE Filed April 20. 19:51

INVENTOR.

m HAROLD wEssou EDWARD $.POM R0 W J I U ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 erret S ATES PATEN creme sinners) WESSON AND EDWARDS. IPOMEROY, or SPRINGFIELD, ivrnssacnusn'rms, AS-

srencns T0 IEERLESS HAN'DCUFF comranxon srn-INeFInLn, ivressncn nsnrrs,

-A CORPORATION on MASSACHUSETTS ZlPOLIGE OFFICERS SHAQKLE Application filed April 20,

This invention relates to an improved' shackle mechanism such as a handcufi or the like, for police officers use. It will be'disclosed in the form of a handcuff and the mechanism will be readily understood as applicable to thumb cuffs, leg shackles, and articles of that character. V i

The general type ofhandcuif to which our improvements relate is that shown in the following issued U. S. Patents: #1,0l7,955;

#1,161,562; #1,157,1s5; and #531,451,

which give a fair showing of the prior art.. In the development of the prior art up to the present invention the lock mechanism, the lock casing, and associated parts have not been simplified as much as we have found that they can be simplified and without the loss of any useful function. Our invention discloses how the simplified structure can be accomplished, the useful functions of the prior art retained, and a number of useful features and relationship of parts added that are novel and useful in such a structure. "The utility of a simpler arrangementof parts is not alone important from an economical, manufacturing standpoint but also important in decreasing weight while at the same time. rendering the mechanism in a form that will function well under all'conditions of use.

A disclosure of the invention will beclear from the accompanying drawing andfol-g lowing description.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pair of handcuff shackles; the upper one having the toplock casing plate and part of the double arm broken away to disclose the lock mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side View of Fig. 1 but with no parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectionalview on line3-3 Fig. 4 is a detail view of thelock'mechanism in double locked position by'reason of the bolt being shifted to that position from the position shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view enlarged to better show a feature. p r

In the handcufl' shown, 1 and 2 areparallel arms spaced at one end by the U-shaped lock casing frame 4 and at the other end bythe pivoted locking arm 5 swiveled on pin 6; Arm 5 is adapted'to turn freely in the form" in the prior art patents.

gaged alternately by a spring pressed pin spring pressed to locking-position.

1931. Serial 'No. 531,394.

from its free end it is providedv with ratchet teeth on its outer edge, adapted to click by the ratchet pawl 8 when movingclockwise but normally prevented by the pawl from moving in the other direction. This arrangementof locking'arms and pawl is much the same as According to the present invention we provlde an elongated lock caslng and in such a caslng we insert an elongated latch member pivoted closely adjacentf'on'e end at 9 and provided at the other end with ratchet I teeth to engage the teethof the locking arm" The lock casing in its 'preferred form has an overhanging ledge 11 for eng'a'g'ement by a shoulder on the outer end of the latch to limit its outward spring pressed move: ment when the arm 5 is notin position to do" this. This shoulder or ledge also has another purpose which will be referred to later.

-Underlying the latch and resting on'fthe bot- I 'tom of the lock casing is an elongated bolt 13, one end of which is in line with a pusher head having a pin 15 extending into a hole through the side [of the lock casing! The outer end of the bolt has two spaced notches 16 on its upper surface adapted to be en- 17. in the bottom side of the latch just below the point where the latch teeth are and said pin is backedup by a strong coiledspring under compression tending. to push it outwardly all the time. f

With the lock parts as shownin Fig.1, the

handcuff is'in position to apply it to the wrist. Arm' 5 can be rotated clockwise until it is applied to the wrist. V Thenthe latch or ratchet pawl8 will prevent the arm' 5 from unlocking movement as long as it'is in toothed "engagement with such arm; In this position of the parts (that of Fig.1) pawl 8'is only One means is the straight bolt l3xwhichis readily operable by the officer'when he pushes 1 ao As shown, this pin extends into a hole the pin 15 to the right (in Fig. 1). He can do this by a pin extension on his key or by the end of a match or any pin pusher. Bolt 13 is thus shifted from position in Fig 1 to that of Fig. 1 where the bolt is shown w th a shoulder 22 underlying latch 8-to efi'ectively block any downward movement to release the.

top'of'the lock casing and for operation is latch teeth. The other means is the narrow recess or slot-21 in the outer end of the latch arranged in line with the smallclearance space between the teeth on arm 5 and the upper surface of the right-hand leg of the U-shaped lock casing frame 4 (Fig. 1.). when the latch is in toothed engagement with arm 5. This clearance space is a pointof attack for a prisoner or confederate to try to pick,

open'thehandcuff lock.

' Some oflicers, in spite of the easily operated slipping a flat picking instrument, like a small fiat spring; down the said clearance space between the shackle teeth and the lock casing so as to reach the end tooth of latch 8 to press that down. The recess 21 is de- [signed and located to receive such a picking instrument as a keeper recess would receive '1 with recess 21 will be received by said recess way along the said clearance spac'e in line and operate to hold the latch 8 in tighter engagement with the shackle teethfi to dog the latch in locked position. Bolt 13 I for'the oificer touse and,' if that is forgotten or 'neglected,; recess 21 for the prisoner'to thickness of the latch-and after the picking instrument is received by the recess'it holds the latch rigid with the lock casing.

i 7 if turned firstjclockwise it will press bolt 13 Observing Fig. 1 it will be clear that a key may be'inserted from outside the casing and to unlocked position by contact with shoulder If it is then turned counterclockwise it 'will press latch 8 to unlocking position by contactwith the ledge 19. p

The ledge 19 is arranged in a substantially radial direction to theaxisof an inserted j key. The reason for the particular shape of the latch Sis this: It is desired to have the By pivoting it at one end and extending it to In general form it is likea straight latch or lever. Butit is desired to haveit operate and functionrasanangle cranklever. This is ac-;

complished by making the straight lever just of the lock casing-iscut down. This has been a bolt; Any instrument that can work. its

There are then'two means which'op'erate V ing position of the parts. latch close the top openlng of the lock casing;

contact with and lower the latch 8 as a whole.

In this way what is desired for closing the accomplished The depth of the latch is out down approximately one-half from what it would be if the ordinary bell crank latch lever were used. Bygetting all the functions of the latch lever in such a small compass by the described arrangement the needed depth done as will be seen from the'drawing. Par- 'allel with the latch lever 8 and" underlying it is the; bolt 13. Thes'eftwo partsS and 13 I safety feature provided by the sliding of bolt 20 13 to double locked position, may neglect such operation of'bolt 13.1 In such cases at- ,s-tempt'may be made to open the handcuff by i simplify the manufacture of parts andsave important space. V

Asshown, the lockcasing is considerably longer than it is deep". The latch lever 8 is pivoted at one end-and extends clear over to theother end; The latch spring 17 is close to the free end of the latch and is preferably a very strong spring so that the pin v17 resting'in either-notch 16 willbe held therewith enough force to prevent bolt 13 395 from being jarred out of the desired position. The ledge 11 cooperating with the shoulder on the'latch prevents any particles working down intofthe lock casing and between the boltand the endof the casing. Such par-g 1100 ticles or accumulated dirt would prevent the bolt from being moved 'to' double lock the arm'5. f p

' In Fig. 3 there are shown two blocks 30 positioned exactly at the open ends of arms 1 and 2 above the lock casing. They are much ilo'ngerthanthey are high (as indicated by dotted lines of the larger detail View, Fig. 5) so as to give a balancedand effectiveblock engagement with the shoulders ;of grooves 321 no oneon each side ofarm 5 above the teeth 7.

The blocks 30-may' be integral ridges of the arms 1 and 2'as indicated in Fig.3 or,' if desired for manufacturing reasons, such blocks may bemade separately and pinned in'posies 'tion, This structure acts'to prevent the arm 5fbeing pulled away or-sprun g 'so as to separate the'teeth 7 from the latch teeth. 5 The arrangement gives added-strength tothe lockp The'features of thestruct'ure disclosed have A p a been found important from a manufacturing thef'o'ther end this closure is accomplished; Y 3,

and structural-standpoint.

Whatweclaim asour'inventionfisz I 1. In a shackle mechanism-of the kind de i125 scribed; a-pivotedjlocking arm having a series of teeth at its free end arrangedon an are deep enough to permit its 7 underside-to. be p -:cutaway for the half turn of akey in the; unlocking operation. Thenby providing the,

with the pivot point as its center, a frame and pivot to carry said 'arm, alatch arm having arranged so as to bring said teeth in very close parallel relation to the top of the latch, toothed meansat one end of thelatch to successively engage said teeth on the pivoted arm as it swings in one direction and to prevent its swinging in the opposite direction, a pivot in said frame for .said latch arm at the end opposite its teeth, said latch arm being' substantially straight and much greater in length than it is'in depth so as to minimize that movement-adjacent its pivot which is necessary for its teeth at the opposite end to engage and disengage the'teeth on the looking arm, said latch arm having a substantially semi-circular cut-away portion on its under side about midway of its length to accommodate a key, and at one end of said cut-away portion a small projection extending in a substantially radial direction to the key axis, spring-pressed means to hold said latch arm in yielding position for its teeth'to engage the teeth of the locking arm, a lock casing on said frame to enclose the latch arm on all sides-except its top edge, said lock casing having a key hole. a

2. In a shackle mechanism of the kind described, a pivoted locking arm having a series of teeth at its free end arranged .on an arc with the pivot point as its center, a frame and pivotfto carry said arm, a latch arm having its upper edge concentric with said arch and arranged'so as to bring said teeth in very close parallel relation to the top of the latch, toothed means at one end of the latch to successively engage said teeth on the pivoted arm as it swings in one direc- 7 tion and to prevent its swinging in the opposite direction, a pivot in said frame for said latch arm at the end opposite its teeth, said latch arm being substantially straight and much greater in length than it is in depth so as to minimize that movement adjacent its pivot which is necessary for its teeth at the opposite end to engage and disengage the teeth on the locking arm, said latch arm having a substantially SBIIll-Cll? cular cut-away portion on its under side about midway of its length to accommodate a key, and at one end of said cut-away portion a small projection extending in a substantially radial direction to the key axis, spring-pressed means to hold said latch arm in yielding position for its teeth to engage the teeth of the locking arm, a lock casing on said frame to enclose the latch arm on all sides except its top edge, said lock casing having a key hole, and a bolt slidable on the bottom of the lock casing, operable from without the casing to a position to block all movement of the latch arm with a key operable part to shift it out of such position.

8. In a shackle mechanism of the kind described, a rectangular lock casing having a recess for lock mechanism much longer in length than in depth and lock mechanism upper corner and toothed means on the upper and opposite corner, said bolt being slidable on the bottom of the recess, said latch arm having a substantially semi-circular cut-away portion at its underside about midway of its l ngth to permit a key to turn with its axis abouton the level of its underside and a small ledge extending from one end of said cut-away portion for engagement-by the key for retracting said latch, 5

all arranged so that the straight latch arm 'may be operable as a bell crank lever without an armdepending from its lower edge.

l. In a shackle mechanism of the kind de-' scribed, allock casing having bottom, s de,

than it is deep, one of the side walls having a key hole positioned for the key axis to pass substantially through the center of the casing, a latch arm pivoted at one upper corner of the recess and extending across" the recess to the other upper corner, with toothed means at the free end of the arm said arm having a key engageable surface for retracting said latch located between :5 and end walls forming a recess much longer said key axis and saidpivot and substantiallyon the line joining the axis and pivot,

a bolt slidable on the bottom of the recess, spring pressure means between the bolt and latch arm tending to separate them,sa1d

arm being located above the longitudinal middle plane of the recess and the bolt located below said plane except for a'projection of one of such parts across said plane for blocking engagement between the bolt and latch arm when the bolt is in looking position, said bolt having a key engageable surface to slide it out oflockmg position. 5. In a mechanism of the kind described,

ashackle arm with a lock casing atone end llO havingbottom, side, and endwalls forming a recess for the lock mechanism much longer than it is deep, one of the sidewalls hav-' ing a key hole, a latch arm pivoted at one upper corner and extending across the top opening of the recess to the other upper corner and with toothed means on the upper side at the free end of said arm, said key hole being positioned so that a line drawn from its axis to the pivot of said arm will make small acuteangle with'the upper side 7 of the latch arm, 'said' arm havingv an undercut surface 011 its bottom side for a key way and including a key engageable ledge sur-' face substantiallyincline. with the said pivot and akis for retraction of said latch by the i key, a shackle locking arm pivoted to the frame and having teeth. at its outer freeend adapted to engage the toothed means on the end ofthe latch arm, spring pressed means bottom side and end walls, a latch arm pivoted at one upper cornerot the casing and extending across the top side of the casing to the other corner, toothed means on the upper s1de at the freeend'of the latcharm, means including a spring to yieldingly hold said latch arm 'for its toothed means to extend slightly above the top side oI tl1ecasing,'a shackle arm pivoted to the frame with teeth on its outer edge to engage said toothed means in springpressed latch locking relalJlOI1,' and means to bolt the latch arm In rigid locking relation such means in- "eluding a bolt within the casing underlyingthe latch arm and slidable from without the casing into blocking relation tothe latch arm and also a bolt receiving recess on the end of the latch arm to receive any lock picking instrument which may be worked through the clearance between the ,top-slde of the casing frameadjacent said toothed means and the teeth of the shackle arm when the latch is in spring pressed latch locking relation whereby the'latch will be bolted in said relation by such lock picking attempt.

7. A mechanism of the kind described comprising a shackle frame and lock casing,

i a shackle arm pivoted to the frame and having teeth arranged to pass one side. of the lock casing with small 'clearancefa spring pressed latch having toothed mea-ns'to engage the teeth of the shackle arm atone corner of the lock casing said latch arm having a-boltrecess below said teeth and opening toward-the said clearance space, said recess being adapted when theteeth and the toothed means of thelatch are in engagement, to receive a "lock picking instrument which may be worked through said: clearance and bolt the latch in toothed engagement with the arm so as to foil the lock pick- 7 ing attempt.

SVA handcufi? mechanism including a shackle frame having a'lock casing at one resistance to the prying ofthe shackle arm.

away from said lockcasingw I o 9. A mechanism of the kind described camprising a shackle frame andlock casing, said lock casing havingrigid closing walls on the bottom, side, and end walls, a latch arm pivoted at one corner of the casing and extending across the top side of the casing to form a yielding closure therefor, spring pressure means in the casing tendingto force the latch outwardly at all times5 an undercut ledge near the top of the casing end wall on the-opposite side from thepivotal pointcof the latch and a ledge at theioute'r end side of the latch to cooperate with the ledge'on the casing wall to limit the spring pressed outward-movement of the latch and-by said overlapping ledges to keep out dirt particles from entering the casing at the point where the latch movement is greatest, toothed means at theend and top side of the latch to extend abovethe adjacentend wall of the lock casing and a shackle locking arm pivoted to the shackle frame with teeth on an arc to engage said toothed means, said-teeth having 5 very small clearance to pass by the upper surface of the outer end wall of the'lock casing. In testimony whereof wehave aflixed'our signatures. s I v HAROLD WESSON.

EDWARD S. POME R-OY.

end and a pivoted shackle arm at the other i it end adapted to swing from open to closed and locked relation to the frame, open ended arc-shaped groovesextending along each side of the shackle arm over the locking range and rectangular blocks longer than they are deep and located on the inside faces of the side walls ofthe-lockcasing at the upper and outer-corner and in line with the movements of-sa d grooves 'andadaptedto furnish great 

